OM
Dear Bhaktas,
Shri Swami Nikhileshwaranandaji, Secretary, Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Memorial, Vadodara, delivered the First "Reginald D. Devaraj Memorial Lecture", at the Ramakrishna Mission, Jaipur's Vivekananda Sabhagrha last Sunday,
He spoke on "Human Development In Line With Swami Vivekananda's World View".
Referring to the 'World view' of Swamiji, he said that it was only Vedanta and not else! Well, of course, it was one that we had virtually forgotten then. It was hence a revival for us, and also the most practical approach to Human development in the light of Vedanta.
The aim of Vedanta is to know the Self as Brahman, the truth and to appreciate the relativity (or मिथ्यात्व ) of the Jagat. He put this aim as the motto of the Ramakrishna Order that he founded, "आत्मनो मोक्षार्थं जगद्-हिताय च" - for one's own liberation, and for the welfare of the world.
If the Universe be so relative, what did the great Swamiji want anyone to serve this मिथ्या जगत् world, or 'improve' it for? Well, it is surely akin to attempts at straightening a dog's curved tail, but equally surely, it would strengthen your arms and straighten you instead - very desirable indeed! चित्तशुद्धि , would doubtless accrue from Seva, getting you closer to the aim. Vivekananda thundered to the world the message of the Upanishads, the Divinity of Man, and pointed out that the aim is to Manifest just that, to know that one is the Limitless.
For this, he said, one has to harness all the inner resources we have, the 4 faculties - his charter for human development. He called it Work, Worship, Knowledge and Psychic control, and emphasized the need for a synthetic approach. He said that 'eternal' or 'limitless' love is not possible between two finite beings whose minds are constantly changing, both moving towards death - and hence must one yoke oneself only to the Limitless.
Synergism or synthetic approach overcomes the drawbacks of any one particular inner resource:
i) Action approach - Work ( कर्म ), even 'Seva' often results in a bloated ego, but if one were to temper it with ( भक्ति ) devotion to the Lord, and surrender the action and results to Bhagavan, it solves the issue!
ii) Emotional approach - Worship ( भक्ति ) can sometimes turn into foolish sentimentalism. It is best tempered with knowledge and Intelligence.
iii) Knowledge (ज्ञान ) - a purely intellectual faculty may often result in dryness and sometimes insensitivity. Devotion there brings joy and compassion!
iv) Purely psychic/mind-control ( राजयोग ) may also go 'out of control', and end with Neurosis or even worse. Hence is needed a timely tempering with service ( सेवा ) to beings - it holds sanity in place!
This mixing judiciously ( समन्वय ), reduces the drawbacks of each approach, allowing for a balanced personality.
The speaker referred to the Monks and Brahmacharis of the Order, whose daily lives strives to be योग - a healthy blend of the four:
The morning is spent in Contemplation, Meditation and devotion (ज्ञान-ध्यान-भक्ति ), the day spent in work, action in the right spirit (कर्म-योग) and evening and night again in Devotion, Knowledge and Meditation (भक्ति-ज्ञान-ध्यान) - a smooth and fluid holistic human development!
It is said, the IQ - deals with how to play the game of life, whereas, EQ - deals with playing it in changing circumstances and change of strategies consequently. SQ (Spiritual Quotient), however, raises fundamental questions pertaining to the aim, and tries to solve them... the Why and Whether of actions aims and strategies!! One, of course, needs all the three to develop well!
All-round development, holistic, does not leave out any one of the following four:
1. Physical development - for health, courage, self-esteem and action. Today's only 'physical' enjoyment culture takes you down this road - fast food.... fast-life....fast-death!
2. Intelligence - is the next very important development dimension, that catapults you, yet that is not enough alone - see the rate of depression and suicides amongst the most 'educated'. Worse, one could also 'Nuke' the world!
3. Emotion and mind - have to develop well. There has to be concentration of the mind and its proper handling, for success. It is said, ' By आहार-शुद्धौ (purity of all intake) accrues - सत्त्व-शुद्धिः (purity of the mind) and as a result - ध्रुवा-स्मृतिः concentration and sharp recall'.
Even these three alone are inadequate. Did not Ravana have all the three and yet did kidnap Seeta Devi? True, without the key dimension, the fourth,
4) Spiritual and moral development - human development does not fulfil, does not express the divinity - his aim!
Bhartrhari, the great sage described humans in four categories:
One Satpurushas, who strive only for the welfare of the others - at any cost. Second, the Saamaanyas or ordinary, who would help others insofar as it does not harm their selfish interests. He calls the third Manava-raakshasas (demons in human garb), who harm others if it serves their selfish interests. Alas! for the fourth category, he laments, he can't even find a name, for they harm others without any reason, including selfish!!
Well then, he would have swooned if he were alive today, to see that there is a fifth category - who will harm, even kill others, even if they themselves die in the process... we all know 9/11 and more..!!
Thus Vivekananda wanted 'Man-making, Character-building education ...for Satpurushas are today a miniscule minority!
One has heard of the famous 'Three Monkeys' of Mahatma Gandhi, symbolic of 'see not evil' (eyes closed), 'hear not evil' (ears closed) and 'speak not evil' (mouth closed). But the speaker was surprised to discover a strange departure when he visited Switzerland. The three 'Swiss monkeys' were modelled as one eye open, one ear open, and mouth partially open!
Yes, unable to figure out ....till the Upanishad Shanti Mantra struck him in full, 'भद्रं कर्णेभिः शृणुयाम देवाः may we hear all that is auspicious (though hearing no evil), भद्रं पश्येमाक्षभिर्यजत्राः may we see all that is auspicious (though seeing no evil), स्थिरैरङ्गैस्तुष्टुवाङ्ग् सस्तनूभिः....... with able limbs and bodies and auspicious speech (speaking not evil), may we spend this life for Thee alone, O Lord!' How wonderful!!
Nikhileshwaranandaji concluded by reciting Bahadur Shah Zafar's insightful Sufi song that was dear to both Sri Ramakrishna and Swamiji - जो कुछ है सो तू ही है ... All that IS - is YOU alone..A song that echoes Vedanta, and Swami Vivekananda's World view, distinctly.....
Reginald D. Devaraj (1954-1994), was born in Singapore, served as a Captain in the Army there before pursuing his interest and business in showcasing Culture, particularly dance and music from the then Soviet Union. He shifted to later to Bucharest, Romania, where he passed away. He was an avid mountaineer with abiding charm for the Himalayas. His family and kin have initiated Memorial Lecture to be held annually, on October the 17th, his birth day. Our sincere thanks to them, as this very first lecture had a salutory impact on the listeners, and shall reach hundreds more through the posting of this summary.
Narayanasmrtis!
--
Swami Sheshadri
